The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-03-08
ROYAL HUNTING IN PERSIA.
The Shah After Big Game, Such as
Wild Asses, Tigers and AnteIOpes.

Wild Asses, Tigers and AnteIOpes.
The shah is a mighty hunter, a good
shot and an enthusiastic sportsman. Big
game is his delight. Tie king, like all
the spOrtsmen of his country, uses a
smooth bore and a bullet. OF course,
royal hunts are to a certain extent
battueS.
A strange incident of eastern life, but
true one, occurred some twelve years age
at one of these royal huntings. As usual,
a couple of regiments accompanied the
shah on his hunting party. The men
acted as heaters. A tiger was wounded,
and was making off under the KING e
eyes. The royal second barrel was dis
charged, but did not kill the wounded
animal. Fearful Of losing his quarry, the
king was reloading tnuzzle leaders are
still preferred by Persians), when pr1-
vate soldier seized the tiger by the tail
and detained him long enough for the
shah to dispatch the animal. His maj
esty made that soldier captain on the
spot.
Wild asses-the favorite chase Of the
old Persians, who shot them from the sad
die with arrows-are hunted with relays
of dogs The only time to shoot them Is
when the young are at the mothers heel
So swift and timid are they that it Is i'm
possible to get any but q chance shot at
them under any Other circumstances. Inc
young asses are often taken with grey
hounds The mothers are shot from the
saddle; for a Persian sportsman, though
he never shoots flying for fear of wasting
his charge is q very good shot from the
saddle, and VIII often kill antelope or other
game when going at full speed. The
secret of success in shooting from the sad
die is that the marksman's horse should
be going vcntre a terre. The flesh Of the
young ass is food for kings. Antelope,
save when with young at their heel, are
seldom secured by q single dog, but are
easily run down by relays Of greyhOunds
or Shot from the saddle by posted horse
men, the antelope being driven toward,
them by greyhOunds.
Hawking is a favOrite pastiIne in Persia.
Every great parsonage has his falconer
and his falcOnry; every little squireen his
partridge hawks and pair of greyhOunds.
A Persian turns out at early dawn and
lies in ambush behind rock for cartridges
which come to drink in the morning at
some spring. At the right moment he fires
both barrels into them, and kills or wounds
many; six or eight brace is no uncommon
bag for the two shots Of the shikari. He
then runs up and cuts their Threats to
make them lawful Though many are al
ready dead, and walks home, having done
a good days work. For six brace of birds
he will get about two shillings.
Water fowl are got in the same IN
sportsmanlike manner. The villagcr,
hidden behind low wall built for the
purpose, fires into pack Of them. Quail
which gives splendid sport in the high
wheat, literally rising III hundreds-are
usually Melted; q bamboo call being used
to attract them. THIS call initiates &C
curately enough the challenge Of the male
bird, and the cock quail, the most pug
naciOus Of birds, never refuses q chal-
lenge. The doroj is SHOT in the noun
tains, and, as it only runs, is an easy vic
tim. 1t weighs often four pounds, is gray
in color, and exquisite eating 1t Is, how
ever, rarely obtained, as il affects high
and inaccessible rocks.
Wild geese are shot either IN the flock at
night or in the daytime by stalking; for
wild geese. il they do not see the gun,
may be approached with ease. The dOu-
BILE snipe is well known, though not often
seen in Europe, it is about twice the size
of our bird, and makes a most delicate
dish NNoodcock are numerous. Hares
end antelope, partridges, quail and
pigeons are haVyked while the two former
are also coursed, and so is the hubara
(bustard. The sand grouse or bagh-a-
ghuIla, which word fairly represents its
cry, is an easy prey. The flock OF from
six to dozen BIRDS IS seen in the open
plain. The sportsman approaches very
leisurely Gf on h0I e'3@}- he may get to
within thirty yards; lie then blazes into
the middle Of the pack, while on the
ground, with both barrels, and often
makes q good bag. Food is what he
wants, not sport.-St. James Gazette.